5 Risky Marvel Movies That Paid Off (& 5 That Didn’t Work)

Some of Marvel ’s motion picture risk of infection , both in and out of theMarvel Cinematic Universe , have been very successful , but others have not been so favourable . The listing of live - activity movies inspired by the characters and stories from Marvel Comics ' over - eight - X - long history is incredibly tenacious , so it ’s no surprisal that not every picture produced has really go . Marvel has ask some crowing risksover the days , some of which set young benchmarks and standards for the superhero genre , while others made audiences drop off faith .

Most of the movies bring on by Marvel Studios and set in the ever - expand earth of the MCU have been monumental successes , with many being some of the highest - grossing motion-picture show of all sentence . This has contributed to theMCU becoming the most successful picture franchisein story , but that does n’t mean every labor has been top drawer , and other Marvel franchise have faltered in the backwash of the MCU.There have been some surprising achiever stories both in and out of the MCU , but also some movies that viewers would rather forget ever chance .

10Paid Off: Iron Man (2008)

Iron Man Was A Huge Risk As The MCU’s First Movie

There was a huge amount of insistence on Marvel Studios and director Jon Favreau to start the MCU in a strong place withIron Man , and , gratefully , this really pay off . Iron Manis still widely considered to be one of theMCU ’s strong installments , and the pic ’s success surely pave the way for Marvel to have more originative freedom when develop the future of its shared universe . Tony Stark ’s Iron Man was far from a fan - favourite in Marvel Comics , so focusing on him for the MCU ’s first movie was a jeopardy , specially with Robert Downey Jr. ’s interest .

After a prolonged period of core abuse , arrests , rehabilitations and relapses , Robert Downey Jr. set himself on a path of recovery in the late 2000s , andIron Manbecame one of his first adult picture show back on - screen . In many ways , the flight of Tony Stark and Robert Downey Jr. ’s lives had been similar , which made him an inspired choice for the role . However , this could have gone very badly , as Downey Jr. was a controversial figure of speech at the fourth dimension . Iron Man , however , mark his return to external stardom and high acclaim , and establish a inviolable beginning for the MCU .

9Didn’t Work: Fantastic Four (2015)

Fantastic Four Rebooted Marvel’s First Family With Some Major Changes

twentieth Century Fox ’s decision to reboot theFantastic Fourfranchise after the original 2005 film and its 2007 sequel could have been neat , but originative decision mean that this did not function at all . The Fantastic Four team of the 2000s was pop , so bring up Marvel ’s First Family so soon after their last adventure was a risk of exposure , in particular since 2015’sFantastic Fourtook inspiration from the Ultimate Marvel versionof the squad from Marvel Comics . This removed their original risible backstory in favour of a modernised version , and made the team ’s penis younger , which some found jarring .

2015’sFantastic Fourwas a critical and commercial-grade failure in much every regard . The movie became a box authority bomb , and has since been regarded as one of the worst superhero films ever , which is a title Marvel Studios will certainly want to avoid when unloosen a new reboot , The Fantastic Four : First Steps , in July 2025 . Even directorJosh Trank has voiced his displeasure withFantastic Four , and blamed studio interference and pressure for a draw of the movie ’s controversial decision .

8Paid Off: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Were Little-Known Before Their Live-Action Debut

This cosmic superhero squad has last on to become one of the MCU ’s most popular attribute , but prior to their live - action debut in 2014 , the Guardians of the Galaxy rest in abstruseness in Marvel Comics . airy movie maker James Gunn proved his saltiness by bringing the Guardians of the Galaxy into the MCU in Phase 2 in a elbow room that became profitable , and made the nominal squad one of in high spirits demand in live - action . Few expectedGuardians of the Galaxyto be as successfulas it was , permit alone lead to the evolution of two sequels and a Holiday Special .

James Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxyfranchiseconcluded with 2023’sVol . 3 , though there have been calls for the squad to return , even though Gunn now oversees the DC Universe . This is testament to the Brobdingnagian winner of the originalGuardians of the Galaxymovie , which saw the MCU pass on its tendril out into the cosmos and begin to expand the world more than was ab initio conceivable . Guardians of the Galaxyset the measure for more comedy , team - up projects and family dynamics in the MCU , paving the elbow room for the the likes of of the Fantastic Four and the ex - Men .

7Didn’t Work: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Dark Phoenix Reinvented An Old X-Men Franchise Storyline

twentieth Century Fox’sX - Menfranchise delivered several hits and Miss over the course of action of its two - decade - long run , and2019’sDark Phoenixwas one of the franchise ’s freehanded mistakes . The soft - reboot of the dealership started well withFirst ClassandDays of Future Past , but when the younger cast became altogether split from the original , something went wrong . disco biscuit - work force : Apocalypsewas disappointing , andDark Phoenix , yet another rehashing of the iconicDark Phoenix Sagafrom Marvel Comics , was just a messand a risk that did n’t seem worth demand with the new stamp .

TheDark Phoenix Sagahad already go bad to be adapted decently in 2006’sX - world : The Last Stand , and Fox failed to perpetrate off the appropriate stage set - up for the story to be order again inDark Phoenix . to boot , Dark Phoenixwas being germinate during Disney ’s acquisition of Fox , so much of the movie was messy , bare and laughably poor . There have been calls forMarvel Studios to simply disregard theDark Phoenix Sagawhen bringing a new X - Men team into the MCU , with many skip the mistakes of Fox ’s past tense will be avoided .

6Paid Off: Deadpool (2016)

Deadpool Was Different To Anything That Had Come Before

As previously state , not every movie in 20th Century Fox’sX - Menfranchise was dissatisfactory , and 2016’sDeadpoolstands out as one of the most beloved and successful risks Fox ever took . After Ryan Reynolds portray a bastardized version ofWade Wilson inX - Men Origins : Wolverine , he set to work lobbying for a more comic - exact adaptation of Deadpool to be bring to screen . His commitment to the character was not partake by Fox , especially after Reynolds’Green Lanternmovie flop , and not even betimes - made trial run footage convinced Fox to make the moving-picture show .

AfterDeadpool’stest footage was mysteriously leakedonline in 2014 , however , the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response forced Fox to put the movie into development , and it might have been the best choice the studio made for theX - Menfranchise . Made on a much small budget than the typical superhero movie , Deadpoolbecame an crying bang , becoming the high - grossingX - Menfranchise movie and highest - grossing roentgen - rated movie at the clip . Deadpoolcould have well accrue compressed , but its vast success led to the production of a higher - budget sequel , and Reynolds ' Merc with a Mouth has now even made his mark on the MCU .

5Didn’t Work: Eternals (2021)

Eternals Has Earned Some Retrospective Admiration

2021’sEternalsis one of the MCU ’s most divisive movies . Academy Award - winnerChloé Zhao ’s vision forEternalswas fantastically challenging and far - reaching , perhaps too much so for just one feature film picture show . Eternalsexplored several millenary of the MCU ’s history and introduced an entire new mythology , including ten new superpowered heroes , which made much of the motion-picture show sense underdeveloped , rushed and too - crammed - full . In this obedience , Eternals’risk did not make up off , as it became one of the MCU ’s lowest - rat and lowest - grossing movies .

Even so , in recent years , Eternalshas been gaining a great deal of retrospective support and admiration . extolment has been give to the movie ’s visuals , motion-picture photography and mythic development , which many desire to see boom on further in the MCU ’s hereafter , even though there has been no confirmation ofMarvel Studios producingEternals 2 . Some have voiced thatEternalsmight have come better as a long - form TV series on Disney+ , giving the characters more sentence to grow , but the future for this cosmic team is now in jeopardy .

4Paid Off: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok Completely Revamped The MCU’s Thor Franchise

AfterThorandThor : The Dark World’sclassical , Shakespearean tones fell savorless with audiences , Taika Waititi was employ as a surprise director for the third ofChris Hemsworth ’s solo MCU movies . Thor : Ragnaroksubsequently regenerate theThorfranchise , saw Hemsworth delivering a more comedic Thor , and explored a coloured and vibrant cosmic adventure , which sawRagnarokbecome one of the MCU ’s most praised and successful movies . While this may not have worked the 2nd fourth dimension round inThor : Love and Thunder , Ragnarokwas certainly a risk worth taking .

Thor has not typically been draw as a comedic character in Marvel Comics or in the MCU ’s history , soit was a huge jive to have him be more jokey , unserious and unembarrassed inThor : Ragnarok . It seems this is on the button what audiences were looking for , however , and this ultimately helped to make his autumn from blessing inInfinity WarandEndgameeven more poignant . There have been discussions about apossibleThor 5taking on a new toneafterLove and Thunderreceived criticism , butThor : Ragnarokis still widely regarded as one of the MCU ’s most enjoyable installation .

3Didn’t Work: Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Tried To Do Too Much For An Ant-Man Movie

UnlikeThor : Ragnarok , Paul Rudd ’s third solo film as Scott Lang ’s Ant - Man did not revamp theAnt - Manfranchise or the MCUin the fashion that Marvel Studios was hop . PreviousAnt - Manmovies had been palate - cleansers after dramatic and intenseAvengersmovies , butAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantumaniatried to pull off a much more transformative and world - changing storyline for the sizing - transfer paladin . It seems Ant - Man works better in belittled , anchor stories , however , as scar him against Kang the Conqueror did not have the impact Marvel wanted .

Ant - Man and the Wasp : Quantumaniareceived a immense amount of criticism follow its exit in February 2023 . The movie ’s visual effect and too - ambitious narrative were n’t well - receive , and whileJonathan Majors ' performance as Kang the Conqueror was praised , the fact he was beaten by Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne was not . Kang was speculate to be the primary baddie of the Multiverse Saga , butQuantumaniamade him seem incredibly weak , and controversy surroundingMajors ' subsequent arrest and convictiontainted the motion-picture show even further . This just was n’t a substantial chapter in the MCU ’s Phase 5 .

2Paid Off: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Told A Completely New Spider-Man Story

One far - reaching multiverse movie that did piece of work , unlikeQuantumania , was Sony Animation’sSpider - Man : Into the Spider - Verse , which became a surprising hit - hit in 2018.The animatedSpider - Versemovie focalise on Miles Morales ' version of the rampart - fishing worm , sound by Shameik Moore , and became one of the most successful and highly - praise animated movie of all time , even winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature . Into the Spider - Verseis regard as a innovative achievement in invigoration , which is shared by its sequel .

develop an animated motion picture focused on a all different version of Spider - Man to Peter Parker from several live - activeness project was a monumental risk for Sony Animation . There was no guarantee that the movie would be successful , and this was reflected in the tiny $ 90 million budget . What the movie ’s creators and animators pulled off on this budget was inspirational and in earnest impressive , setting a raw standard for animate picture show , and establishing an even higher banner for its own sequels , which 2023’sAcross the Spider - Verseexceeded , and theupcomingBeyond the Spider - Verseneeds to agree .

1Didn’t Work: Kraven The Hunter (2024)

Kraven The Hunter Marked The End Of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe

Unlike Sony ’s success with the animatedSpider - Versefranchise , the studio’slive - activeness Spider - Man Universe ( SSU ) falteredat almost every crook . While theVenomtrilogy achieved some stage of success , Morbius , Madame Weband , most recently , Kraven the Hunter , dead did not . Kraven the Hunteronly grossed a aggregate of $ 62 million at the global box office , becoming a corner billet bomb with a budget of just about double its gross . This marked a sorry remnant to the SSU , which was confirmed to be stop as audience sleep with it followingKraven the Hunter’srelease .

The entirety of Sony ’s Spider - Man Universe received criticism throughout its run , most notably because of the absence of any version of Spider - Man . The enfranchisement rick some ofSpider - Man ’s most iconic adversariesinto anti - zep , which was a controversial choice to commence with , but then all ignored the wall - crawler himself . Kraven the Hunteris one of Spider - Man ’s most well - make love enemies , so it was a huge risk of infection to develop the project outside theMarvel Cinematic Universewithout Peter Parker , and this risk did not pay off for Sony whatsoever .